Winding and transfer apparatus for dynamoelectric machine stator coils

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for winding stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to a transfer device which includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated blade elements defining slots therebetween, at least two of the slots respectively receiving the opposite sides of a coil. A coil form assembly is provided having first and second parts adapted to have a coil wound thereon. The coil form parts are mounted for relative movement between an expanded winding position, and a collapsed coiltransferring position. One of the parts has side portions for respectively forming the opposite sides of a coil wound thereon which are received in the transfer device slots, the side portions having recesses therein for removably receiving two of the blade elements with the opposite sides of the coil being received in the respective slots defined by the two blade elements and by respectively adjacent blade elements. The coil form parts are spring biased toward their collapsed position, and a latch is provided for holding the parts in their expanded position. The transfer device is arranged for movement between an inactive position in which it is removed from the form, and a coil-transferring position in which at least two of the blade elements are received within the recesses in the one coil form part. A part on the transfer device engages the latch in response to movement of the transfer device to its coil-transferring position, thereby actuating the latch to release the parts to permit their movement to their collapsed position, so to permit removal of the transfer device with the coil thereon from the coil form.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Robert J. Eminger;

Buddy S. Stuckey, both of Ft. Wayne, Ind. [211 App]. No. 859,148 [22] Filed Sept. 18, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 28, I971 [73] Assignee Essex International, Inc.

Fort Wayne, Ind.

. [54] WINDING AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR DYNAMOELEC'IRIC MACHINE STATOR COILS 23 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 140/92.1, 29/205, 29/596, 29/605, 242/709 [51] Int. Cl 1321f 3/02, H021: 15/04 [50] Field of Search 29/205 R,

Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-45. M. Combs A!t0rney-H0od, Gust, Irish & Lundy ABSTRACT: Apparatus for winding stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to a transfer device which includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated blade elements defining slots therebetween, at'least two of the slots respectively receiving the opposite sides of a coil. A coil form assembly is provided having first and second parts adapted to have a coil wound thereon. The coil form parts are mounted for relative movement between an expanded winding position, and a collapsed coil-transferring position. One of the parts has side portions for respectively forming the opposite sides of a coil wound thereon which are received in the transfer device slots, the side portions having recesses therein for removably receiving two of the blade elements with the opposite sides of the coil being received in the respective slots defined by the two blade elements and by respectively adjacent blade elements. The coil form parts are spring biased toward their collapsed position, and a latch is provided for holding the parts in their expanded position. The transfer device is arranged for movement between an inactive position in which it is removed from the form, and a coil-transferring position in which at least two of the blade elements are received within the recesses in the one coil form part. A part on the transfer device engages the latch in response to movement of the transfer device to its coil-transferring position, thereby actuating the latch to release the parts to pennit their movement to their collapsed position, so to permit removal of the transfer device with the coil thereon from the coil form.

PATENTED DEC28 I97! SHEET 1 BF 7 FII l INVENTORS ROBE RT J. EMINGER s. STUCKEY BUDDY BY K ATTORNEYS PATENIEU UEC28 :sn

SHEET 2 BF 7 INVENTORS ROBERT J. EMINGER BUDDY S. STUCKEY Z/mc, M,M,ZMA

ATTORNEYS PAlENlEnmiczam 3.630.240

SHEET 3 OF '7 TF5; E I

INVENTORS ROBERT J. EMINGER BUDDY s. STUCKEY WM m My 1 ATTORNEYS PATENTED 1582 I97! SHEET 4 0F 7 INVENTORS ROBERT J. EMINGER BUDDY S. STUCKEY BY 7/0010, m My 1 ATTORNEYS .WINDING AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINE STATOR COILS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to apparatus for winding dynamoelectric machine stator coils, and for transferring the wound coils to the slots of the stator core member.

2. Description of the Prior Art U.S. Pat. No. 3,324,536 to Donald E. Hill discloses ap' paratus for inserting prewound coilsin a dynamoelectric machine stator core member. U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,292 to Gene S. Ericson discloses apparatus for winding dynamoelectric machine coils and for transferring the wound coils to coil inserting apparatus, such as that disclosed in the Hill patent. The apparatus of the Ericson patent is particularly adapted for winding random-wound, multiple layers coils. U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,372 (application Ser. No. 640,156 filed May 22, I967 to Robert .I. Eminger and Clayton L. Tyson, and assigned to the Assignee of the present application, discloses apparatus for winding precision-wound, single-layer coils, and for transferring such coils to coil insertion apparatus. French Pat. No, 1,515,436, based upon U.S. application Ser. No. 609,976, filed Dec. 13, 1966, of Donald E. Hill and Robert G. Walker, discloses a hand transfer device for removing dynamoelectric machine stator coils from a winding form, and for subsequently transferring such coils to coil insertion apparatus.

In each of the above-described apparatuses, collapsible coil forms and molds are employed, and coil forms being expanded during the winding operation, and collapsed after winding in order to permit removal of the coils therefrom. In the Ericson patent, the coil forms are manually collapsed while the Eminger, et al. patent, the forms are collapsed by a timing mechanism which controls the sequence of operations of the apparatus. The Hill French patent does not disclose mechanism for collapsing the coil forms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is desirably to provide a relatively simple mechanism which will automatically collapse the coil forms upon positioning of the transfer device, whether it be the blades or finers of coil insertion apparatus or an intermediate transfer tool, in coil-transferring relationship with the coil form, and which will thereafter automatically expand the coil forms upon their movement from the coil transferring position to the winding position. Further, when precision wound, single layer coils are wound upon stepped coil forms of the type shown in the Ericson patent, a coil form of substantial length is required. Thus, if the coils are to be transferred directly to coil insertion apparatus as disclosed in the Ericson patent, since the coils have not been nested during the winding operating, the coil insertion apparatus must be provided with correspondingly long blades which are subject to deflection and which in turn requires a correspondingly long stroke for the pushing element which transfers coils from the blades into the stator core member slots. With such long, flimsy blades and long stroke, it may be difficult if not impossible to insert coils in a stator core member having a relatively short stack height. The Eminger and Tyson patent, by winding concentric nested coils may be employed with coil insertion apparatus having blades which are no longer than that required for accommodating the longest one of the nested coils. It is therefore desirable to provide apparatus of the general type disclosed in the Ericson patent for winding precision wound, single-layer coils, but which does not require coil insertion apparatus having correspondingly long blades.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, apparatus is provided for winding dynamoelectric machine stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to a coil transfer device which includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated blade elements defining slots therebetween with at least two of the slots being adapted respectively to receive the opposite sides of a wound coil. At least one coil form assembly is provided having first and second parts which are adapted to have a coil wound thereon, and means are provided for mounting the parts for relative movement between an expanded position for winding a coil thereon, and a collapsed position for removing the wound coil therefrom. One of the parts has portions for respectively forming the opposite sides of a coil wound thereon, such portions having recess means therein for removably receiving at least a part of at least two of the blade elements with the opposite sides of the coil received in the respective slots defined by the two blade elements and the respectively adjacent blade elements. Means are provided for moving the parts to the collapsed position in response to the two blade elements being relatively moved to a position in which they are so received in the recess means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the coil form is supported at one end thereof with the other end being a distal end. Means are provided for moving a transfer device between a first inactive position in which the distal ends of the blade elements are spaced longitudinally from the supported end of the coil form, and a second, coil-transferring position in which the blade elements are received in the recess means and the distal ends of the blade elements project beyond the distal end of the coil form, the distal ends of the blade elements in turn being in overlapping relationship with the distal ends of the blade elements of coil insertion apparatus. Thus, while the transfer device must be longer than the overall length of the coil form, the blades of the insertion apparatus need be only so long as required by the stack height of the stator core member into which the coils are to be inserted.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for winding dynamoelectric machine stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to a coil transfer device.

Another abject of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for winding dynamoelectric machine stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to a coil transfer device in which the coil forms are automatically collapsed upon positioning of the transfer device in coil transferring relationship therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for winding dynamoelectric machine stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to coil insertion apparatus in which the blades of the insertion apparatus need not be as long as the coil forms.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the inven tion;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side view, partly in cross section illustrating the coil form collapsing and expanding mechanism of the embodiment of FIG. I, the coil forms being shown in their expanded position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the coil form in its collapsed position;

FIG. 5 is a view taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view showing a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top cross-sectional view showing a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. is a top view, partly in cross section, showing another embodiment of the invention utilizing a hand-transfer device;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Flg. l of the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of the invention, generally indicated at 20, which is particularly adapted for winding precision-wound, singlelayer coils for a two-pole dynamoelectric machine, and for transferring those coils to coil inserting apparatus. The apparatus 20 generally includes a coil form assembly 22 comprising collapsible stepped coil forms 24, 26, a flyer 28 for winding precision-wound, single-layer coils upon the steps of the coil forms 24, 26, and coil insertion apparatus 30, such as that disclosed in the aforesaid I-Iill patent. Flyer 28 is mounted upon a rotatable, splined shaft 32 coupled to a flyer drive and traversing mechanism (not shown) which does not form a part of the present invention. The flyer drive and traversing mechanism rotates the fly 28 so as to wind wire 34 upon the step of coil forms 24, 26, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the flyer drive and traversing mechanism also moving splined shaft 32 and flyer 28 axially, as shown by the arrows 36, so as to traverse the flyer 28 over the respective coil form thereby to form the precision-wound, single layer coils thereon. A flyer drive and traversing mechanism of the type illustrated and described in application Ser. No. 813,798, filed Mar. 19, 1967, to Robert J. Eminger and assigned to the assignee of the present application may be employed.

Coil forms 24, 26 are pivotally mounted on indexing and support assembly 38, each coil form 24, 26 being pivotally movable between a winding position in axial alignment with the axis of flyer 28, and a coil-transferring position. In FIG. I, coil form 24 is shown positioned in the winding position while coil for 26 is shown positioned in the coil-transferring position. The downwardly pivoted, coil-transferring position of coil form 24 is shown in dashed lines at 24a.

Support assembly 38 is rotatably indexed by means of an index gear 40 driven by a suitable index drive motor (not shown). Support assembly 38 together with index gear 40 and coil forms 24 and 26, are, in turn, supported by a mounting assembly 42 which provides both horizontal and vertical movement of the support and coil form assemblies between the winding position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, and the coiltransferring position in cooperative relationship with the circular array of blades 44 of coil insertion apparatus 30, as shown in dashed lines at 22a. Mounting assembly 42 includes a plate member 46 movably mounted on a pair of rails 48 which, in turn, are secured to and extend outwardly from frame 50 in spaced, parallel relationship with the axis of flyer 28. Plate member 46 is moved horizontally between the wind ing and coil-transferring positions, as shown by the arrows 52, by a suitable fluid power cylinder 54 mounted on frame 50, as shown.

Support assembly 38, index gear 40 and coil forms 24, 26 are rotatably mounted on member 56. Member 56 together with support assembly 38, index gear 40 and coil forms 24, 26 are supported by plate member 46 and vertically moved between the winding and coil-transferring positions by means of a suitable fluid power cylinder 58 supported on bridge 60 which is mounted on plate member 46. Piston rod 62 of cylinder 58 extends downwardly through bridge 60 and plate member 46 and supports member 56 for vertical movement, as shown by the arrows 64. It will thus be seen that plate member 46 is supported by rails 48 for horizontal movement in the direction shown by the arrows 52, member 56 is supported by plate member 46 for vertical movement in the direction shown by the arrows 64, and support assembly 38, index gear 40 and coil forms 24, 26 are supported by members 56 for rotational movement, coil form assembly 22 thus being supported for horizontal movement as shown by the arrows 52 and vertical movement as shown by arrows 64 between the winding and coil-transferring positions, and also for rotational movement so as selectively to position one or the other of the coil forms 24, 26 in the winding position.

Coil forms 24, 26 are actuated between their winding and coil-transferring positions by push rods 66, 68. Coil forms 24, 26 are normally held in their downwardly extending, coiltransferring position by latching mechanism 70 (FIG. 7) cooperating with rings 72, 74 on push rods 66,68 respectively, to retain the push rods in their upper positions, as will hereinafter be described. The push rods 66, 68 of the coil form 24, 26 positioned at the winding position is actuated downwardly so as to pivot the respective coil form 24, 26 upwardly to the winding position, as shown by arrows 76, by means of a clevis member 78 actuated by fluid power cylinder 80 which is supported by bridge 82 member 56.

Push rods 66, 68 rotate with support assembly 38 and index gear 40, while clevis'78 and cylinder 80, being supported by member 56, remain stationary with respect to the rotatable push rods 66, 68. Ring 72 or 74 of the one push rod 66 or 68 of the coil form 24 or 26 positioned at the winding position is engaged by notch 84 of clevis 78. Cylinder 80 is normally actuated so that clevis 78 is in an upper position, as shown in dashed lines at 78a, with its notch 84 in alignment with rings 72, 74 when push rods 66, 68 are in their upper positions, as shown for push rod 66 and ring 72 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, when support assembly 38 and coil form assembly 22 is rotated by index gear 40 so as to rotate one coil form 24, 26 from the winding position to the coil-transferring position, and the other coil form from the coil-transferring position to the winding position, one ring, such as ring 72 will be rotated out of cooperative relationship with notch 84 of clevis 78, and the other ring, such as ring 74, will be moved into cooperative relationship with notch 84. With one ring, such as ring 74, thus rotated into notch 84, cylinder 80 is then actuated to move its piston rod 86 downwardly, as shown by the arrow 89 (FIG. 2) thereby moving clevis 78 downwardly and pushing ring 74 and push rod 68 downwardly so as to pivot the respective coil form 24 upwardly to its winding position, as shown by arrow 76. As will hereinafter be more fully described, downward movement of clevis 78 releases the respective latch 70 (FIG. 7) which normally holds rings 74 and push rod 68 in its upper position, Upon completion of the winding of the coils on the steps of coil form 24, cylinder 80 is again actuated to raise clevis 78 which thereby raises ring 74 and push rod 68 to its upper position so as to pivot coil form 24, with the coils thereon, downwardly to its coil-transferring position 24a, upward movement of ring 74 to its position again causing latching engagement with the respective latch 70.

An elongated, slotted, coil-transferring tube 88 is provided supported by piston rod 90 of fluid power cylinder 92 which is also supported on bridge 82, tube 88 extending downwardly through member 56 and index gear 40. Cylinder 92 selectively moves coil transfer tube 88 between an upper, inactive position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a lower coil-transferring position in cooperative relationship with blades 44 of coil inserting apparatus 30, as shown in dashed lines 88a in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 4. As will be hereinafter more fully described, when coil-transferring tube 88 is in its lower position, its blades extend completely through recesses in the coil forms with their distal ends projecting beyond the lower ends of the coil forms and overlapping the distal ends of the blades 44 of the insertion apparatus, the slots in the tube 88 receiving side portions of the coils to thereby guide the coils downwardly onto the inserter blades following collapse of the coil forms.

Each of the coil forms 24, 26 has a fixed part 94 secured to a support element 98 which is pivotally mounted on the support assembly 38, as at 100, and a movable part 96 which is movably mounted on the support element 98 by collapsing assembly 102 which moves the movable part 96 inwardly to its collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 4, in response to downward movement of tube 88 to its coil-transferring position, and which returns the movable part 96 to its expanded position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in response to pivotal upward movement of the respective coil form 24. 26 to its winding position.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 through 7, support assembly 38 comprises four spaced, parallel post elements 104 secured to index gear and rotatable therewith, and depending therefrom. Index gear 40 has a central opening 106 through which the tube 88 extends, as shown. The index gear 40 also has a sleeve 108 secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom with tube 88 extending therethrough. Sleeve 108 is rotatably joumaled in member 56 by suitable bearings 110 thus rotatably supporting index gear 40, support assembly 38 and coil form assembly 22. Push rods 66, 68 extend downwardly through diametrically opposite openings 112 in sleeve 108.

The coil forms 24, 26 together with their support elements 98 and collapsing assemblies 102 are identical, and thus description of one will suffice. Each of the elements 98 has a slot 114 formed therein defining side legs 116 which are pivotally mounted on a respective pair of arms 104 by pivot pins 100. Forward end 118 of support element 98 has a forwardly facing, arcuate recess 120 formed therein with a relatively narrow slot 122 communicating between recess 120 and forward end 124 of slot 1 14. Fixed coil form part 94 is secured to forward end 118 of support element 98, as by means of suitable bolts 126.

Collapsing assembly 102 comprises a slide 128 movably mounted in slot 114 for forward and rearward movement therein, as shown by the arrows 130 (FIG. 2) slide 128 is normally biased forwardly by a suitable spring 132 to a position in which its forward end 134 abuts forward end 124 of slot 114.

A member 136 is pivotally connected to slide 128 by pivot pins 138, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Movable coil form part 96 is secured to member 136 and depends therefrom. It will thus be seen that forward movement of slide 128 under the influence of spring 132 from its rearward position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to its forward position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, will result in forward movement of the movable coil form part 96 to its collapsed position, as shown in dashed lines 96a in FIG. 2, and in solid lines in FIG. 4.

It will be understood that in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 coil form 24 is shown pivoted upwardly to its winding position, while coil from 26 is shown pivoted downwardly to its coil transferring position, In order to provide this pivotal motion in response to vertical movement of push rods 66, 68, links 140 are pivotally connected to the lower ends 142 of push rods 66, 68 as at 144, and to forward end 118 of support elements 98, as at 146.

In order to hold slide 128, member 136 and movable coil form in the rearward, expanded position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and to release the same for movement to the forward, collapsed position, a latching member in the form of a lever member 148 is provided having its inner end 150 seated in a notch 152 in the forward end 134 of slide 128, and being pivotally connected to slide 128 by a pin 154. Forward end 156 of lever member 148 extends forwardly into recess 120 in forward end 118 of support element 98. Lever member 148 has a notch 158 formed therein which, in the rearward, latched position, engages pin 160 which extends across slot 122 in forward end 118 'of support element 98. A suitable spring 161 seated in a recess in slide 128 engages end 150 of lever member 148 and serves normally to bias lever member 148 to its latched position, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, in the latched position of lever member 148, notch 158 engages pin 160 thereby holding slide 128, member 136 and movable coil form part 96 in the rear, expanded position. Rear end 150 of lever member 148 has a projection 162 formed thereon which engages abutment 164 on member 136 (F IG. 2) thus pivoting member 136 and movable coil form part 96 slightly downwardly about pins 138, as shown by the arrow 166, a shouldered pin 168 secured to slide 128 and engaging a recess 170 in member 136 limiting the amount of pivotal movement of member 136 and movable coil form part 96.

In the illustrated embodiment, coil forms 24, 26 are provided with four progressively smaller steps 94-1 and 96-1, 94-2 and 96-2, 94-3 and 96-3 and 94-4 and 96 14 which form four progressively smaller concentric coils 172-1, 172-2 172-3 and 172-4, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Fixed coil form part 94 has spaced outer and inner sections 174, 176 connected by a bridge portion thereby defining two arcuate recesses 178, 180 which extend longitudinally between the upper end 182 and distal end 184 of fixed coil form part 94 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Each step of fixed coil form part 94 has side portions 186, 188 which respectively form opposite sides 190, 192 of the respective coils 172, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Acrylate recesses 178, 180 communicate with side portions 186, 188, as best seen in FIG. 5. Arcuate recesses 178, 180 conform to and are adapted to receive tube 88 when the same is moved downwardly to its lower coil-transferring positions 88a by actuation of cylinder 92, as will shortly be described.

Tube 88 has a plurality of pairs of elongated, longitudinally extending slots 194-1, 194-2 194and 194-4 formed therein (FIGS, 2 and 3) and respectively defining elongated blade elements 196-1 through 196-5 therebetween (FIG. 6). Tube 88 also has a pair of longitudinally extending, elongated, diametrically opposite slots 198 formed therein respectively between blade elements 196-5, slots 198 being wider than slots 194. Slots 194-4, 194-3, 194-2 and 194-1 are progressively longer in order to receive sides 190, 192 of coils 172-1 through 172-4, as will now be described.

When tube 88 is lowered by actuation of cylinder 92 to its lower coil-transferring position, as shown in FIG. 4, bridge portion 175 connecting outer and inner sections 174, 176 of fixed coil form part 94 extends through slot 198 with outer section 174 thus being disposed within tube 88, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Blade elements 196-2 through 196-5 on each side of slot 198 extend through arcuate recesses 178, 180 with side portions 190, 192 of the respective coils 172 being received by the respective slots 194-1 through 194-4, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

It will be understood that prior to downward movement of tube 88 as above-described, the entire assembly has been moved outwardly and downwardly by outward movement of plate 46 and downward movement of member 56 thereby to position coil forms 24 and 26, both in their downwardly pivoted coil-transferring positions, and tube 88 in alignment with the circular array of blades 44 of coil insertion apparatus 30, as shown in dashed lines at 22a in FIG. 1. In this position, the distal end 184 of fixed coil form part 94 and the distal ends 200 of inserter blades 44 are slightly spaced apart. Following the downward movement of the tube 88, the distal ends 202 of blade elements 196 of tube 88 overlap and coaxially encircle the circular array of inserter blade elements 44, as best seen at FIG. 4.

In this position of tube 88, each opposite pair of slots 194 is aligned with a respective pair of surface portions 186, 188 of a respective coil form step 94 thereby receiving the respective coil sides 190, 192, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the slots 45 respectively formed between the inserter blades 44 are in radial alignment with respective slots 194 in tube 88 thereby permitting the coils 172 to be slid downwardly in the tube slots 194 and into the inserter slots 45 upon collapse of the movable coil form part 96.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, in order to release the pivoted latching member 148 to permit movement of slide 128 to its forward position thus collapsing the movable coil form part 96, the diametrically opposite wide slots 198 have an upper end or bottom 204. When tube 88 approaches its lower coil-transferring position, as shown in FIG. 4, bottom 204 of slot 198 engages end 156 of pivoted lever member 148 thus pivoting the same downwardly against spring 162. Initial downward movement of lever member 148 causes its projection 162 to move off of abutment 164, thus permitting member 136 and movable coil form part 96 to pivot slightly in the direction shown by the arrow 207, in response to the tension of the coils 172 wound on the coil form. Further downward movement of lever member 148 results in disengagement of pin 160 with notch 158, thus resulting in movement of slide 128 to its forward position under the influence of spring 132, thus moving member 136 and the movable coil form part 96 forwardly to the collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 4, thereby releasing the rear portions of the coils, as shown. With the coil form thus collapsed, the coils 172 may be slid downwardly in slots 194 in tube 88 and thence into slots 45 between the inserter blades 44, the coils 172 being nested during this downward movement to the nested position show in FIG. 6.

In order to provide for return of slide 128 to its latched position, a cam member 206 is provided mounted on a cap member 208 secured to the upper surface of slide 128. Cam 206 cooperates with a roller 210 mounted on an arm 104. Thus, when slide 128 has been released by latch 148 in response to downward movement of tube 88 to its coil-transferring position, as above described, cam member 206 moves forwardly to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2 and in solid lines in FIG. 4. Following transfer of the coils 172 to the inserter blades 44, tube 88 is returned to its upper, inactive position, as shown in FIG. 2, and the coil form 24, 26 at the winding station is then pivoted upwardly to its winding position by downward movement of the respective push rod 66, 68 as actuated described. Pivotal movement upward of support element 98, slide 128 and cam member 206 in its forward position about pivot pin 100 results in cam member 206 moving into engagement with roller 210, as shown by arrow 205, which thus cams member 206 together with slide 128, member 136 and movable coil form part 96 upwardly to the extended position in which slot 158 and lever member 148 again engages pin 160, as shown in FIG. 2, with respect to coil form 24, the movable coil form part 96 thus being held in its expanded position until the next unlatching operation.

It will now be seen that upon completion of a coil-transferring operation, both coil forms 24, 26 are in their downward coil-transferring positions, as shown in dashed lines at 22a in FIG. 1. Cylinder 92 is then actuated to raise tube 88 to its upper, inactive position. Cylinders 54, 58 are then actuated to move coil form assembly 22 toward the left and upwardly, and cylinder 80 is actuated to move push rod 68 downwardly thereby to pivot coil form 24 upwardly to its winding position, as shown in FIG. 2. Flyer 28 is then operated to wind the'coils 172 on the steps of coil form 24. Cylinder 80 is then again actuated to raise push rod 68 thereby to pivot coil form 14 downwardly to its position shown in dashed lines at 24a in FIG. 1. Index drive motor (not shown) is then operated to rotate index gear 40 to rotate the wound coil form 24 by 180 away from the winding position and in turn to rotate the unwound coil form 26 by 180. This indexing of the coil form assembly moves ring 74 associated with push rod 68 out of cooperative relationship with clevis 78, and moves ring 72 associated with push rods 66 into cooperative relationship therewith. Cylinder 80 is then again actuated to move push rod 66 downwardly thereby pivotally to move coil form 26 upwardly to its winding position, the movable coil form part 96 being returned to its expanded position as a result of the pivotal upward movement, as above described. Flyer 28 is again operated to wind the coils 172 on the steps of coil form 26, following which cylinder 80 is again actuated to raise push rod 66 thereby to pivot coil fonn-26 downwardly. Cylinders 54 and 58 are then again actuated to move the coil form assembly outwardly and downwardly to its coil-transferring position, following which cylinder 92 is again actuated to move tube 88 downwardly to its coil-transferring position thereby to collapse the movable coil form parts 96 of both coil forms 24, 26 so as to permit transfer of the coils 172 wound on both coil forms to the blades 44 of the coil insertion apparatus 30.

Referring now briefly to FIG. 7, each of the rings 72, 74 respectively associated with push rods 66, 68 has a latch assembly 70 associated therewith for holding the respective push rod in its upper position. Each assembly 70 comprises a latch member 212 pivotally mounted on sleeve 108, as at 214, and having a notch 216 formed therein which engages the respective ring 72, 74 when the respective push rod is in its upper position, a suitable coil spring 218 normally biasing member 212 to its latched position. A hook member 220 secured to sleeve 108 has an upper portion 222 which engages the upper side of the respective ring 72, 74 thereby to limit the upward travel of the ring and respective push rod.

It will be understood that the latching member 212 and member 220 associated with each push rod 66, 68, being attached to sleeve 108, will rotate with sleeve 108 and index gear 40 when the same in indexed, as shown by the arrow 224, latching member 212 passing through slot 226 in clevis 78 during the indexing motion. Clevis 78 has a projection 228 on one side thereof and having complementary cam surfaces 230 and 232. With ring 72, 74 associated with the respective push rod 66, 68 positioned in slot 84 of clevis 78, actuation of cylinder to move piston rod 86 downwardly in the direction shown by the arrow 89 will result in cam surface 230 engaging complementary cam surface 234 on latching member 212, thereby to pivot the latching member 212 outwardly, as shown by the arrow 236, to release notch 216 from ring 72, 74, thereby permitting clevis 78 to push the respective ring 72, 74 and push rod 66, 68 downwardly so as pivotally to raise the respective coil form 24, 26 to its winding position, as shown in the case of coil form 24 in FIG; 2. When cylinder 80 is actuated to move piston rod 86 upwardly thereby to move the respective push rod 66, 68 upwardly so as to pivot the respective coil form 24, 26 downwardly as shown in the case of coil form 26 in FIG. 2, cam surface 232 on clevis 78 engages cooperating cam surface 236 on latching member 212, thereby again pivoting latching member 212 away from the respective ring 72, 74, as shown by the arrow 235, permit the ring to move upwardly and into latching engagement with notch 216.

In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the coils 172 are manually transferred from the respective coil form and tube 88 to the blades 44 of the coil insertion apparatus 30. It may be desirable to provide for automatic transfer of the coils and such apparatus is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in which like elements are indicated by like reference numbers. Here, a pair of longitudinally extending notches 238 are formed communicating with the outer surface portions 240 of the outer coil form sections which form end portions 242 of coils 172. Here, a stripping member 244 is provided secured to shaft 246 which extends through piston rod 90 of cylinder 92 which supports tube 88. Stripper member 244 has a pair of blades 248 in alignment with notches 238. Thus, when piston rod 246 is moved downwardly as by a second fluid power cylinder (not shown) mounted on top of cylinder 92, stripper member 244 is moved downwardly in the direction shown by the arrow 250 with blades 248 entering slots 238 and passing downwardly therethrough, thereby engaging end portions 242 of coils 172 and pushing the same downwardly, thereby to transfer the coils from the tube 88 to the coil insertion apparatus 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 through 14 in which like elements are indicated by like reference numerals, there is shown an embodiments of the invention employing a hand transfer tube 288, the wound coils being transferred to the tube 288, and then subsequently transferred to the blades of the coil insertion apparatus. Here, index gear 40 is rotatably mounted on piston rod 250 of a suitable fluid power cylinder (not shown). A plurality of coil form support elements 252 are secured to index gear 40 and extend outwardly therefrom parallel with axis 254 of piston rod 250, there being one support element 252 for each coil form, only one being shown in FIG. 10. Support element 252 has a slot 256 formed therein between two side legs 258 260. Mounting member 262 is provided pivotally connected to legs 258, 260 of support elements 252 by pin I 264 for movement, as shown by the arrows 266, between the coil-transferring position shown in FIG. 10 and a winding position with mounting member 262 parallel with and between legs 258, 260, as shown in FIGS. l2, l3 and 14. Fixed coil form part 94 is secured to end 268 of mounting member 262.

Mounting member 262 has a longitudinally extending slot 270 formed therein, slide 272 being seated in slot 270 and retained therein by means of cap member 274. A suitable coil spring 132 normally biases slide 272 forwardly toward abutment 276 on mounting member 262. Movably coil form part 96 is secured to slide 272. In FIG. 10, fixed and movably coil form parts 94, 96 are shown in their coil-transferring position. When mounting member 262 is pivoted to its position between legs 258, 260 of supporting element 252, fixed and movable coil form parts 94, 96 are disposed on the winding axis of flyer 28, as shown by the dashed line 278.

Coil form assembly 24, 26 is pivotally moved between its coil-transferring position and its winding position by means of a collar 280 rotatably mounted on the end of piston rod 250 by means of a suitable bearing 282. Links 284 are pivotally connected to collar 280, as at 286, and to mounting member 262, as at 290. Thus, when piston rod 250 is moved outwardly in the direction shown by the arrow 292 so that collar 280 is in the position shown by the dashed lines at 280a, links 284 will pivotally move coil forms 24, 26 downwardly from the coiltransferring to the coil-winding position.

Slide 272 and movably coil form part 96 are held in the expanded position by latching lever member 294 pivotally mounted on mounting member 262 by pin 296. End 298 of lever member 294 has a notch 300 formed therein which engages the end of cap member 274 in the latched position of lever member 294 thereby to retain slide 272 and movable coil form part 96 in the expanded position. A suitable coil spring 302 normally biases lever member 294 to the latched position with notch 300 engaging the end of cap member 274.

Fixed coil form part 94, shown here as having two steps, is formed with outer and inner sections 174, 176 defining arcuate recesses 178, 180 for receiving tube 288, as in the case of the previous embodiment. Tube 288 again has longitudinally extending slots 194 formed therein for receiving the opposite side portions 190, 192, of coils 172 wound on the coil form. It will be understood that at least the fixed coil form part 94 of the embodiment of FIG. 10 will have the same general configuration as the fixed coil form part 94 of the previous embodiment. In order to release the latch 294 to permit slide 272 and movable coil form part 96 to move to the collapsed position, shown by the dashed lines 96a in FIG. 10, lever member 294 has a projection 304 formed thereon extending toward distal end 184 of fixed coil form part 94. Tube 288 has a central post member 306 coaxially disposed therein and having a distal end 308 generally coextensive with the distal ends 202 of blade elements 196. Thus, when tube 288 is inserted in recesses 178, 180 in fixed coil form part 94, as shown by the arrow 309, as the distal ends 202 of the blade elements 196 approaches the bottom of recesses 178, 180, distal end 308 of post member 306 engages projection 304 of lever member 294, thus pivoting the same against the force exerted by a spring 302, as shown by the arrow 310, causing notch 300 to move out of engagement with member end of cap member 274, in turn permitting slide 272 and the movable coil form part 96 to move to the collapsed position 96a, as indicated by the arrow 312. The coils may then be transferred from the coil form steps onto the blade elements 196 of the hand transfer tube 288, which may'then by removed from recesses 178, 180 with the coils thereon. The hand transfer tube 288 with the coils thereon maythen subsequently be positioned in coiltransferring relationship with the blades of coil inserting apparatus.

' 294 is released from the forward end of cap member 274, as

above described, the forward end of the cap member will move forwardly to engage abutment 276 on mounting member 262, the cap member 274 then being disposed over end 298 of lever member 294, thus preventing return of the lever member 294 to its latching position despite removal of coil-transferring tube 288. In order to return slide 272 and movable coil form part 96 to the expanded position, a roller 314 is provided mounted on stud 316 which extends through elongated slot 318 in side portion 320 of mounting member 262, stud 316 being threadingly engaged with slide 272, as best seen at FIG. 14. Thus, stud 316 and roller 314 move with movement of side 272 between its rear, expanded and forward collapsed position. Side leg 258 of support element 252 has an inclined cam groove 322 formed therein in which roller 314 is received when mounting member 262 is pivoted to the winding position, as shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, ans as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 10. As mounting member 262 pivots away from the winding position toward the coil-transferring position, as shown in FIG. 10, roller 314 being attached to slide 272, will move out of slot 322. When latch 294 is released thus permitting slide 272 to move to its collapsed position, as above described, roller 314 and stud 316 likewise move, slot 318 accommodating this movement of stud 316. Then when mounting member 262 is pivoted back to its winding position, roller 314, still in its forward or collapsed position, enters slot 322 and engages the forward side thereof, as shown in dashed lines at 314a in FIG. 10, cooperative engagement of roller 314 and the forward side of slot 322 thus camming slide 272 rearward toward the expanded position of movable coil form 96 until notch 300 and lever member 294 again engages can member 274.

While the previous embodiments both employ a transfer tune, 88 in the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 9 and 288 in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 through 14, the coil form collapsing mechanism of FIG. 10 may be employed in a construction in which the blades 44 of coil inserting apparatus are directly inserted into recesses 178, of the fixed coil form part. Thus, referring to FIG. 15, in which like elements are again indicated by like reference numerals, here the recesses 178, 180 do not extend substantially the entire length of the fixed coil part 94, as in the case of the previous embodiments, but rather are relatively shallow to accommodate a relatively short length of the inserter blades 44 extending from the distal ends 200. In this embodiment, an opening 323 extends through fixed coil form part 94 and mounting member 262 communicating with one of the recesses 178, 180 and end 330 of lever member 294. A pin 324 extends through opening 323, having a head 326 positioned in a recess 178, 180 and having its other end 328 adapted to engage end 330 of lever member 294. A suitably coil spring 332 normally biases pin 324 so that end 328 is out of engagement with end 330 of lever member 294.

It will not be seen that when the distal ends 200 of the inserter blades 44 are inserted in the recesses 178, 180 in the fixed coil form part 94, as shown by the arrows 334, as the distal end 200 approaches the bottoms of the recesses 178, 180, the distal end 200 of one of the inserter blades 44 will engage the head 326 of pin 324, thus moving the pin 324 in direction 334 against the force exerted by thespring 332 so that end 328 pivots lever member 294 in the direction shown by the arrows 310, thus causing notch 300 to release cap member 274 and permitting slide 272 and movable coil form 96 to move the collapsed position, as above-described.

It will be seen that in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 15, all of the coil forms are simultaneously moved between their winding and coil-transferring position by axial movement of the piston rod 250. Thus, with a set of coils having been transferred from the coil forms to the hand transfer tool 288, or directly to the inserter blades 144, and the transfer tool or inserter blades with the coils thereon removed from recesses 178, 180 piston rod 250 is moved forwardly in direction 292 thereby to pivot all of the coil forms to the winding position, at the same time actuating the slide 272 and movable coil form parts 96 to the expanded position, as above described. With one of the coil forms at the winding station in cooperative relationship with flyer 28 (FIG. 1) a first set of coils 172 is then wound. Index gear 40 is then rotated to rotate the next coil form to the winding station and the next set of coils is wound, this indexing operation being successively repeated until coils have been wound on all of the coil forms. Piston rod 250 is then retracted to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. which pivots all of the coil forms to their coil-transferring position. The hand transfer tube 288 is then inserted in the recesses 178, 180 or the inserter blades 44 relatively moved with respect to the coil forms with their distal ends 200 extending into the recesses 178, 180, the latching member 294 being actuated, as above described, to permit movement of the slides 272 and movable coil form parts 96 to their collapsed position. The coils are then stripped from the collapsed coil forms onto the blade elements of the hand transfer tube 288, or the blade elements of the coil insertion apparatus, and the coil forms are returned to their winding position, all as above described.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for winding dynamoelectric machine stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to a coil-transfer device including a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated blade elements defining slots therebetween, at least two of said slots being adapted respectively to receive the opposite sides of a wound coil; at least one coil form assembly having first and second parts and adapted to have a coil wound thereon, means for mounting said parts for relative movement between an expanded position for winding a coil thereon, and a collapsed position for removing the wound coil therefrom, one of said parts having portions for respectively forming said opposite sides of a coil wound thereon, said portions having recess means therein for removably receiving at least a part of at least two of said blade elements with said opposite sides of said coil received in respective slots defined by said two blade elements and the respectively adjacent blade elements, and means for moving said parts to said collapsed position in response to said two blade elements being relatively moved to a position in which they are so received in said recess means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for biasing said coil form parts towards said collapsed position, said moving means including means for holding said parts in said expanded position thereof, and means for releasing said holding means in response to movement of said transfer device to said position whereby said biasing means moves said parts to said collapsed position thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first coil form parts is fixed and said second part is movable with respect to said first part.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises first means for supporting said first part, and second means movably mounted on said first supporting means for supporting said second part for movement between said expanded and collapsed positions, said biasing means comprising spring means for normally urging said second supporting means and second coil form part to said collapsed position; said holding means comprising latching means for releasably holding said second supporting and second coil form part in said expanded position, said releasing means comprising means on said transfer device for actuating said latching means to release the same so that said spring means moves said second support means and second coil form part to said collapsed position, and further comprising means for returning said second supporting means and second coil form part to said expanded position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for mounting said coil form assembly for movement between a winding position and a coil-transferring position with said first coil form part positioned to receive said blade elements in said recess means, said returning means comprising for moving said second supporting means and second coil form part from the collapsed to the expanded position thereto in response to movement of said coil form assembly from said transferring position to said winding position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said last-named mounting means pivotally mounts said coil for assembly for movement between said winding and transferring positions thereof, said coil form assembly in said winding position lying on a winding axis, said transfer device having a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to said winding axis, said coil form assembly in said transferring position lying on an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said returning means comprises cam means having cooperating parts on said first and second supporting means, respectively.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transfer device comprises apparatus for directly inserting the wound coils into the slots of a stator core member, said blade elements having distal ends, said recess means receiving said distal ends of the respective blade elements in said position thereof, said releasing means comprising the distal end of a least one of said blade elements.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transfer device comprises apparatus for directly inserting the wound coils into the slots of a stator core member, said blade elements having distal ends, said recess means receiving said distal ends of the respective blade elements in said position thereof, said latching means comprising a lever member pivotally mounted on said first supporting mean for movement between latched and unlatched position, said lever member having a'portion adapted to engage said second supporting means in said latched position thereby to hold said second supporting means and second coil fonn part in said expanded position, and spring means normally biasing said lever member to said latched position, said releasing means comprising the distal end of at least one of said blade elements, and further comprising an actuator link operatively coupled to said lever member and extending into said recess means, said link being adapted to be engaged by said distal end of said one blade element as it approaches said position and to be moved thereby to move said lever member to its unlatched position thereby to disengage said lever member portion from said second supporting means.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transfer device comprises an elongated tube, said tube having said slots longitudinally formed therein and defining said blade elements therebetween, said releasing means comprising the bottom of one of said slots.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first coil form parts has spaced opposite ends with said portions and recess means extending longitudinally there between, said blade elements having distal ends, the distal ends of said two blade elements projecting beyond one of said first coil form part ends in said position of said blade elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first coil form part has opposite surfaces respectively forming said portions, said first part having spaced outer and inner sections joined by a longitudinally extending bridge portion, said recess means comprising two longitudinally extending blade element receiving slots defined by said sections and bridge portion and respectively communicating with said surfaces, said blade element receiving slots conforming to said tube, said outer section being disposed within said tube and said bridge portion extending through one of said slots when said blade elements are in said position thereof.

13. The extending of claim 12 wherein said mounting means includes means for supporting the other end of said first coil form part, said one end being a distal end, and further comprising means for moving said tube longitudinally between an inactive position with said distal ends of the blade elements spaced longitudinally from said other end of said first coil form part and said first-named position with at least two of said blade elements respectively extending longitudinally completely through said two blade element-receiving slots and the distal ends thereof projecting beyond said distal end of said first coil form part.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said releasing means comprises the bottom of said one slot through which said bridge portion extends.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transfer device comprises an elongated tube, said tube having said slots longitudinally formed therein and defining said blade elements therebetween, said blade elements having distal ends, said first coil form part having spaced opposite ends, one of said first part ends being secured to said first supporting means and the other end being a distal end, said first coil form part having opposite surfaces extending longitudinally between said opposite ends and respectively forming said portions, said first part having laterally spaced outer and inner sections joined by a longitudinally extending bridge, said recess means comprising two blade element-receiving slots extending longitudinally between said opposite ends, said two blade element-receiving slots being respectively defined by said sections and bridge portion and respectively communicating with said surfaces, said blade element-receiving slots conforming to said tube, and further comprising means for longitudinally moving said tube between an inactive position with the distal ends of said blade elements spaced longitudinally from said one end of said first coil form part and said first named positioned with at least said two blade elements respectively extending longitudinally completely through said two blade elements receiving slots and the distal ends thereof projecting beyond the other end of said first coil form part, said bridge portion extending through the one slot in said tube defined by said two blade elements and said outer section of said first coil form part being disposed within said tube when said tube is in said first position, said latching means comprising a lever member pivotally mounted on said first supporting means for movement between latched and unlatched positions, said lever member having a first portion adapted to engage said second supporting means in said latched position thereby to hold said second supporting means and second coil form part in said expanded position, and spring means normally biasing said lever member to said latched position, said releasing means comprising the bottom of said one slot in said tube through which said bridge portion extends, said lever member having a second portion adapted to the engaged by said slot bottom as it approaches said first portion of said blade elements and to be moved thereby to actuate said lever member to its unlatched position thereby to disengage said first portion from said second supporting means.

16. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said blade elements are disposed on at least a part of a circle, said releasing means comprising a longitudinally extending post member generally coaxially positioned within said blade elements.

17. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said blade elements are disposed on at least a part of a circle, said releasing means comprising a longitudinally extending post member generally coaxially positioned within blade elements, said latching means comprising a lever member pivotally mounted on said first supporting means for movement between latched and unlatched positions, said lever member having a first portion adapted to engage said second supporting means in said latched position thereby to hold said second supporting means and second coil form part in said expanded position, and spring means normally biasing said lever member to said latched position, said lever member having a second portion adapted to be engaged by the distal end of said post member as said blade elements apparatus said position thereof and to be moved therebyl to actuate said lever member to its unlatched posrtron t ereby to disengage said first portion from said second supporting means.

18. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising linear acting means disposed and axis parallel with said transfer device axes for moving said coil form assembly between said winding and coil transferring positions.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said linear acting means comprises a fluid power cylinder having an extensible piston rod, and a link operatively connecting said piston rod and aid first supporting means whereby movement of said piston rod in opposite directions respectively, pivotally moves said coil form assembly between said positions thereof.

20 In winding and transfer apparatus for dynamoelectric machine stator coils: a transfer device including a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated blade elements defining slots therebetween, each of said blade elements having a distal end, at least two of said slots being adapted respectively to receive the opposite sides of a wound coil; at least one coil form adapted to have a coil wound thereon and having longitudinally spaced opposite ends, means for supporting one end of said coil form's with the other end being a distal end, said coil form having portions extending longitudinally between said opposite ends for respectively forming said opposite sides of the coil wound thereon, said portions having recess means there extending longitudinally between said opposite ends for removably receiving at least two of said blade elements with said opposite sides of said coil received in respective slots defined by said two blade elements and the respectively adjacent blade elements; and means for moving said transfer device longitudinally between an inactive position with said distal ends of said blade elements spaced longitudinally from said one of said coil form and a coil-transferring position with at least said two blade elements extending longitudinally completely through said recess means and said distal ends thereof projecting beyond said distal end of said coil form.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said blade elements are disposed on at least a part of a circle, and further comprising means for injecting a wound coil directly into the slots of a stator core member and including a circular array of spaced, parallel, elongated finger elements defining slots there between, each of said finger elements having a distal end, said blade elements being coaxial with said finger elements and the distal ends of said blade and finger elements overlapping in said coil transferring position of said position transfer device with the slots respectively defined by said blade and finger elements being respectively in radial alignment whereby wound coils may be transferred from said coil form to said finger elements.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transfer device comprises an elongated tube, said tube having said slots longitudinally formed therein and defining said blade elements therebetween.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said coil form has opposite surfaces extending longitudinally between said opposite ends and respectively forming said portions, said coil form having laterally spaced outer and inner sections joined by a longitudinally extending bridge, said recess means comprising two blade element-receiving slots extending longitudinal between said opposite ends, said two blade elementreceiving slots being respectively defined by said sections and bridge portions and respecfively communicating with said surfaces, said blade element-receiving slots conforming to said tubes said bridge portion extending through the one slot in said tube defined by said two blade elements and said outer coil form section being within said tube when said tube is in said coil-transferring position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CER'MFECATE GE QREQ'HCN Patent No. 3 I 630 I 240 Dated December 28, 1971 Inventor(s) Robert J. niminger #18, Buddy Stuckey #3 7 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1H ll-Ill SPECIFICATI (It! Column 1, line 8,, change the" to --a-- Column 1, line 30, change "and" to --or-- Column 1, line 30, change "and" to --th'e- Column 1, line 33, after "while" insert --ln-- Column 1, line 41, change "desirably" to --desirable-- Column 1, line 43, change "flners" to ---Lngers Column 2, line 36, change "abject" to --object--- Column 3, line 7, change "12-14" to --l2-l2-- Column 3, line 18, change Flg" to -Fig. Column 3, line 32, change "fly" to --flyer- Column 4, line 26, after "82" insert -on-- Column 4, line 59 after "its" insert -upper Column 5, line 56, change to H Column 6, line 12, change "96 14" to -96 -4 Column 6, line 22, change "Acrylate" to --Arcuate-'- Column 6, line 28, change "194" to -l94'3--- Column 7, line 34, change "actuated" to above- Column 7, line 54, change "14" to -24- Column 8, line 41, after "235" insert "to-- Column 8, line 44, change "one to --the-- Column 8, line 52, after "sections" insert --l74-- Column 8, line 66, change "embodiments" to "embodiment-- Column 9, line 14, change "movaloly to -mova]ole--- Column 9, line 15, change "movably" to -movable-- Column 9, line 31, change "movably" to --movable-- Column 9, line 59 change approaches to -approach- Column 9, line 63, change "member" (first occurrence) to --the-- Column 9 line 68, change "by" to --be--- Column l0, line 18, change "ans" to --and-- Page 1 of 3 F ORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC GOING-P09 i! u 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. I969 o-356-33a UNlTED STATES PATENT ormcr CETlFlCA'lE 1 CRECHON Patent O- 3, 630, 240 Dated December 28, 1971 Inventor(s) Robert J. Eminger #18, Buddy S Stuckey #3 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

" IN 'mr sPrcIFIcATIcm Column 10, line 30, change "rearward" to --rca rwardly--- Column 10, line 32, change "can" to --cap- Column 10, line 35, change "tune to -tube-- Column 10, line 51, change "suitably" to --suitable- Column 10, line 57, change "end" to -ends- I Column 10, line 57, change "approaches" to --approach-- Column 10, line 62, change "arrows" to --arrow-- Column 11, line 18, change "position" to --positions IN THE CLAIMS Claim 3, Col. 11, line 54, change "parts" to -part-- Claim 4, Col. 11, line 69, change "support" to supporting-- Claim 5, Col. 12, line 5, after "comprising" insert -means- Claim 5, Col. 11, line 7, change "thereto" to thereof-- Claim 6, Col. '12, line 11, change "for" to -form- Claim 8, Col. 12, line 26, change "a to --at-- Claim 9, Col. 12, line '35, change "position" to, --positions-- Claim 11, Col. 12, line 55, change "parts" to --part-- Claim 12, Col. 12, line '60, change "1" to --l1- Claim 13, CO1. 12, line 71, change "extending" to --apparatus-- Claim 13, C01. 13, line 3, change "the" to --sa 11-- Claim 15, Col. 13, line 34-, change elements" to -element- Claim 15, Col. 13, line 50, change "the" to --be-- Claim 15, C01. 13, line 51, change "portion" to --p0siti0n- Claim 17, C01. 13, line 62, after "within" insert sa id Claim 17, CO1. 14, line 2, change "apparatus" to --approach--- Claim 18, Col. 14, line 7, change "and" to --on an Claim 19, C01. 14, line 13, change "aid" to -said -Page 2 of 3-- FORM (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O37G-P69 U S. GOVERNMENT PFHNTING OFF-CE I965 O366334 UNTTED STATES PATENT oEETcE CERTWICATE F CCRRECNUN Patent Nb. ,24 Dated December 28, 1971 lnventofls) Robert J. Eminger #18, Buddy S Stnckey. #3

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

: TTIE WCLAIMS Claim 20, Col. 14', line 28, change "there to --therei n- Claim 20, Col. 14, line 35, after "one" insert -end Cla L111 21, C01. .14, line 47, after "said" delete --position- Claim 23, Col. 14, line 62, change "longitudinal to -long;itudlnally-- Claim 23, Col. 14, line 66, change "tubes" to --tube-- Signed and sealed this 28th day of November 1972.

(SEAL) Attest: Page 3 of 3 EDWARD M.FLETCHER,J'R. ROBERT GOI'TSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O376-F69 U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 O36533 

1. In apparatus for winding dynamoelectric machine stator coils and for transferring the wound coils to a coil-transfer device including a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated blade elements defining slots therebetween, at least two of said slots being adapted respectively to receive the opposite sides of a wound coil; at least one coil form assembly having first and second parts and adapted to have a coil wound thereon, means for mounting said parts for relative movement between an expanded position for winding a coil thereon, and a collapsed position for removing the wound coil therefrom, one of said parts having portions for respectively forming said opposite sides of a coil wound thereon, said portions having recess means therein for removably receiving at least a part of at least two of said blade elements with said opposite sides of said coil received in respective slots defined by said two blade elements and the respectively adjacent blade elements, and means for moving said parts to said collapsed position in response to said two blade elements being relatively moved to a position in which they are so received in said recess means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for biasing said coil form parts towards said collapsed position, said moving means including means for holding said parts in said expanded position thereof, and means for releasing said holding means in response to movement of said transfer device to said position whereby said biasing means moves said parts to said collapsed position thereof.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first coil form parts is fixed and said second part is movable with respect to said first part.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises first means for supporting said first part, and second means movably mounted on said firSt supporting means for supporting said second part for movement between said expanded and collapsed positions, said biasing means comprising spring means for normally urging said second supporting means and second coil form part to said collapsed position; said holding means comprising latching means for releasably holding said second supporting and second coil form part in said expanded position, said releasing means comprising means on said transfer device for actuating said latching means to release the same so that said spring means moves said second support means and second coil form part to said collapsed position, and further comprising means for returning said second supporting means and second coil form part to said expanded position.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for mounting said coil form assembly for movement between a winding position and a coil-transferring position with said first coil form part positioned to receive said blade elements in said recess means, said returning means comprising for moving said second supporting means and second coil form part from the collapsed to the expanded position thereto in response to movement of said coil form assembly from said transferring position to said winding position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said last-named mounting means pivotally mounts said coil for assembly for movement between said winding and transferring positions thereof, said coil form assembly in said winding position lying on a winding axis, said transfer device having a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to said winding axis, said coil form assembly in said transferring position lying on an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said returning means comprises cam means having cooperating parts on said first and second supporting means, respectively.
 8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transfer device comprises apparatus for directly inserting the wound coils into the slots of a stator core member, said blade elements having distal ends, said recess means receiving said distal ends of the respective blade elements in said position thereof, said releasing means comprising the distal end of a least one of said blade elements.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transfer device comprises apparatus for directly inserting the wound coils into the slots of a stator core member, said blade elements having distal ends, said recess means receiving said distal ends of the respective blade elements in said position thereof, said latching means comprising a lever member pivotally mounted on said first supporting means for movement between latched and unlatched positions, said lever member having a portion adapted to engage said second supporting means in said latched position thereby to hold said second supporting means and second coil form part in said expanded position, and spring means normally biasing said lever member to said latched position, said releasing means comprising the distal end of at least one of said blade elements, and further comprising an actuator link operatively coupled to said lever member and extending into said recess means, said link being adapted to be engaged by said distal end of said one blade element as it approaches said position and to be moved thereby to move said lever member to its unlatched position thereby to disengage said lever member portion from said second supporting means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transfer device comprises an elongated tube, said tube having said slots longitudinally formed therein and defining said blade elements therebetween, said releasing means comprising the bottom of one of said slots.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first coil form parts has spaced opposite ends with said portions and recess means extending longitudinally therebetween, said blade elements having distal ends, the distal ends of said two blade elements projecting beyond one of said first coil foRm part ends in said position of said blade elements.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first coil form part has opposite surfaces respectively forming said portions, said first part having spaced outer and inner sections joined by a longitudinally extending bridge portion, said recess means comprising two longitudinally extending blade element receiving slots defined by said sections and bridge portion and respectively communicating with said surfaces, said blade element receiving slots conforming to said tube, said outer section being disposed within said tube and said bridge portion extending through one of said slots when said blade elements are in said position thereof.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said mounting means includes means for supporting the other end of said first coil form part, said one end being a distal end, and further comprising means for moving said tube longitudinally between an inactive position with said distal ends of the blade elements spaced longitudinally from said other end of said first coil form part and said first-named position with at least two of said blade elements respectively extending longitudinally completely through said two blade element-receiving slots and the distal ends thereof projecting beyond said distal end of said first coil form part.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said releasing means comprises the bottom of said one slot through which said bridge portion extends.
 15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transfer device comprises an elongated tube, said tube having said slots longitudinally formed therein and defining said blade elements therebetween, said blade elements having distal ends, said first coil form part having spaced opposite ends, one of said first part ends being secured to said first supporting means and the other end being a distal end, said first coil form part having opposite surfaces extending longitudinally between said opposite ends and respectively forming said portions, said first part having laterally spaced outer and inner sections joined by a longitudinally extending bridge, said recess means comprising two blade element-receiving slots extending longitudinally between said opposite ends, said two blade element-receiving slots being respectively defined by said sections and bridge portion and respectively communicating with said surfaces, said blade element-receiving slots conforming to said tube, and further comprising means for longitudinally moving said tube between an inactive position with the distal ends of said blade elements spaced longitudinally from said one end of said first coil form part and said first named positioned with at least said two blade elements respectively extending longitudinally completely through said two blade element receiving slots and the distal ends thereof projecting beyond the other end of said first coil form part, said bridge portion extending through the one slot in said tube defined by said two blade elements and said outer section of said first coil form part being disposed within said tube when said tube is in said first position, said latching means comprising a lever member pivotally mounted on said first supporting means for movement between latched and unlatched positions, said lever member having a first portion adapted to engage said second supporting means in said latched position thereby to hold said second supporting means and second coil form part in said expanded position, and spring means normally biasing said lever member to said latched position, said releasing means comprising the bottom of said one slot in said tube through which said bridge portion extends, said lever member having a second portion adapted to the engaged by said slot bottom as it approaches said first portion of said blade elements and to be moved thereby to actuate said lever member to its unlatched position thereby to disengage said first portion from said second supporting means.
 16. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said blade elements are disposed on at least a part of a circle, said releasing means comprising a longitudinally extending post member generally coaxially positioned within said blade elements.
 17. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said blade elements are disposed on at least a part of a circle, said releasing means comprising a longitudinally extending post member generally coaxially positioned within blade elements, said latching means comprising a lever member pivotally mounted on said first supporting means for movement between latched and unlatched positions, said lever member having a first portion adapted to engage said second supporting means in said latched position thereby to hold said second supporting means and second coil form part in said expanded position, and spring means normally biasing said lever member to said latched position, said lever member having a second portion adapted to be engaged by the distal end of said post member as said blade elements approach said position thereof and to be moved thereby to actuate said lever member to its unlatched position thereby to disengage said first portion from said second supporting means.
 18. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising linear acting means disposed and axis parallel with said transfer device axes for moving said coil form assembly between said winding and coil transferring positions.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said linear acting means comprises a fluid power cylinder having an extensible piston rod, and a link operatively connecting said piston rod and said first supporting means whereby movement of said piston rod in opposite directions respectively, pivotally moves said coil form assembly between said positions thereof.
 20. In winding and transfer apparatus for dynamoelectric machine stator coils: a transfer device including a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated blade elements defining slots therebetween, each of said blade elements having a distal end, at least two of said slots being adapted respectively to receive the opposite sides of a wound coil; at least one coil form adapted to have a coil wound thereon and having longitudinally spaced opposite ends, means for supporting one end of said coil forms with the other end being a distal end, said coil form having portions extending longitudinally between said opposite ends for respectively forming said opposite sides of the coil wound thereon, said portions having recess means therein extending longitudinally between said opposite ends for removably receiving at least two of said blade elements with said opposite sides of said coil received in respective slots defined by said two blade elements and the respectively adjacent blade elements; and means for moving said transfer device longitudinally between an inactive position with said distal ends of said blade elements spaced longitudinally from said one of said coil form and a coil-transferring position with at least said two blade elements extending longitudinally completely through said recess means and said distal ends thereof projecting beyond said distal end of said coil form.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said blade elements are disposed on at least a part of a circle, and further comprising means for injecting a wound coil directly into the slots of a stator core member and including a circular array of spaced, parallel, elongated finger elements defining slots there between, each of said finger elements having a distal end, said blade elements being coaxial with said finger elements and the distal ends of said blade and finger elements overlapping in said coil transferring position of said position transfer device with the slots respectively defined by said blade and finger elements being respectively in radial alignment whereby wound coils may be transferred from said coil form to said finger elements.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transfer device comprises an elongated tube, said tube having said slots longitudinally formed therein and defining said bladE elements therebetween.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said coil form has opposite surfaces extending longitudinally between said opposite ends and respectively forming said portions, said coil form having laterally spaced outer and inner sections joined by a longitudinally extending bridge, said recess means comprising two blade element-receiving slots extending longitudinal between said opposite ends, said two blade element-receiving slots being respectively defined by said sections and bridge portions and respectively communicating with said surfaces, said blade element-receiving slots conforming to said tube, said bridge portion extending through the one slot in said tube defined by said two blade elements and said outer coil form section being within said tube when said tube is in said coil-transferring position. 